Hilly Kristal – RIP

I just learned that Hilly Kristal, the founder of CBGBs merged with the infinite on August 29.

Kristal never intended to tend the garden in which American punk rock would grow, but that he did. CBGBs died last year, a victim of greed. Kristal intended to open a new CBGBs in Las Vegas, which just didn’t seem right. I’m not glad that he is gone, but it seems appropriate that he left us before having to see his punk rock garden of eden transformed into yet another neon and plastic inflatable version of itself.

Thanks for the Ramones and the rest of my youth, Hilly. Say hello to Cliff.